The Stolen Valley (2022)

DIRECTOR: JESSE EDWARDS DISTRIBUTOR: LIGHTBULB FILM DISTRIBUTION

Recent movies like KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and shows like RESERVATION DOGS have shed a spotlight on the U.S.’s long and complex history of injustice towards Native Americans, while also providing much needed on-screen representation. The latest in this lineup is the contemporary Western thriller THE STOLEN VALLEY, the debut feature from writer and director Jesse Edwards. 

Lupe Reyes (Briza Covarrubias) is a hard working Mexican-Navajo mechanic who has been raised by her mother Adamina (Paula Miranda). When Adamina falls ill with a brain tumor and needs life-saving medical treatment priced at $50,000, Lupe doesn’t have the money to pay for it. This is when Adamina’s family comes clean with Lupe, revealing that her father, whom she thought dead, is actually alive. He owns Alta Valley, which is worth a fortune, and may have the money to pay for the treatment. As Lupe sets out to the valley, she crosses paths with Maddy Monroe (Allee Sutton Hethcoat), a feisty cowgirl and rodeo rider who is in debt to some very dangerous people. After being hunted by the same men, Lupe and Maddy team up, with Maddy hoping to gain her own cut of money to pay her debt. However, the journey is not an easy one, especially when the pair discover that Lupe’s father, Carl (Micah Fitzgerald), is a corrupt landowner who has severely mistreated Lupe’s Navajo family. 

THE STOLEN VALLEY makes for an undeniably entertaining but predictable watch. Fans of the Western genre will be delighted by the film’s exciting action sequences and shootouts, which are impressively staged and one of the movie’s greatest strengths. These scenes are aided by gorgeous cinematography that captures the valley in all its vast beauty, despite some shaky camerawork. The chemistry between Covarrubias and Hethcoat as Lupe and Maddy is a lot of fun to watch play out on screen, and their dynamic offers some much needed levity. 

Unfortunately, what lets the action-thriller down is the quality of its writing. Despite an intriguing story, the film features a lot of cheesy dialogue and far-fetched plot twists that make it hard to believe and truly be immersed in. It borders on the style of melodrama and soap opera, which hinders the film’s dramatic core. Despite solid performances from its two leads, some supporting actors aren’t so convincing with their delivery. Particular characters also feel slightly underdeveloped and stereotypical, making it hard to be fully invested in what happens to them. 

What is most admirable about THE STOLEN VALLEY is its loud and clear message around the exploitation of Native American people and their land. Underlying themes around greed, corruption and culture are explored, highlighting the importance of telling these stories, even if this is not necessarily the best example.

“THE STOLEN VALLEY” WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OWN OR RENT FROM APRIL 17TH VIA APPLE TV, PRIME VIDEO, AND GOOGLE PLAY